The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-05-18
A LIVELY CHURCH ROW
AIBusINEss MAN OBJECTS TO THE
TITLE or PRINCE OF HE'LL

AtGE ~ ttAitNS-fse@ ~ Fih-Ah-1
And Drags His Reverand Calumniator
from the Pulpit by His whiskers-A
Proposition to Tar and Feather Pair
of Preachers.
PARK RIDGE, N. j., May 17.-This little
village of less than 500 souls, If Pascack and
North Vernon are counted in, is in the throes
Of religious struggle, which involves the
whole community and threatens two preach
ers with tarring and feathering. A prelim-
mary threat to throw one in a horse pond
was made Sunday night and would have been
carried out but for his promise to leave
within twenty-four hours.
James Leach, the well known stationer of
No SO Nassau street. New York, lives up on
the hill here, and beside his house Is the First
Congregational chapel. Opposite this church
Is new tent covering an area of about IS by.
25 feet, where the Rev. Mr.. Switzer breaches.
This gentleman had been the pastor of the
chapel, but, it is alleged, he did not come up
to the expectations of Mr.. Leach, who is
superintendent of the Sunday school, SO he
mad to resign, and sirsEe then he has not been
sparing in his remarks about the stationer.
These attacks fell harmless, although there
were fully three score of disaffected ones In
the tent church who followed Mr.. Switzer
thither.
Five weeks ago Rev. Mr. Mnason, a revi-
valist from Newark, appeared and, it is
alleged, followed in the abusive path mapped
out by Mr. Switzer. Mr. Leach soon learned
of what was going on, but refrained from in
terfering, although urged to do so.
The trouble eliminated when Mr.. Leach
walked into the tent where Revivalist
Mnason and the Rev. Samuel Switzer were
holding forth There was a large assemblage
in the tent and twice as large crowd out
side Mr. Leach took the last seat in the
tent and listened quietly and respectfully to
the services. All went well until Mr.. Mnason
began his Sermon in which he excoriated the
citizens of this place and picked out Mr.
Leach's name for special mention. Said he:
"Mr James Leach, the prince of hell, the
prince of the devils, with oil his imps is under
this tent. The Lord told me in vision to-
day that must preach against him and his
evil influences.
Mr. Leach preserved his equanimity. Dur
ing the course of the TRADE several women,
who were on the platform and among the
audience, cried aloud: "Bless the Lord; he
will prevail against the devil.n Mr.. Mnason
resumed:
II
intendent of the Congregational Sunday
school in this pretty place, where the Lord
babe me come, has been educating the young
men of this town as devils.n
This proved too much for Mr.. Leach's tenn
per, and, jumping to his feet, he walked
quickly toward the platform and, pointing
his finger at the speaker, exclaimed:
"You are liar and q blackguard.n
The congregation began to exclaim at this
juncture. The clergyman resumed his SER
non, disregarding Mr.. Leach's presence, and
repeated his former statement. Mr. Leach
sprang upon the platform and grabbed the
minister by his long, black beard, and pulled
him from the platform and knocked him to
the ground. Standing near was Mr.. Switzer,
and Mr. Leach angrily exclaimed:
'sYou are responsible for all this Islander. y
Then he knocked down the other clergyman.
The excited crowd outside who had been
witnesses Of the affair burst into the tent
and several lusty young fellows laid violent
hands upon Mr.. Mnason, and started with
him up the road, shouting:
Lets duck the parsonl To the pond with
himln
The cry was taken up by the throng who
dragged the struggling clergyman in the di-
rection of Forbes bobbin mill pond. Many
OF the throng tried to get at the PROSTATE
man and kicked and struck at him, but Mr.
Mnason escaped these attentions Mr. NJ. A.
McClaskey and two others present rescued the
imperiled minister and brought him back to
the tent, and order was restored for few
minutes. But the members of the little COM
munity Of worshippers commenced to shout
and cry that they were martyrs, and the air
was filled with cries of:
ffxy f,,t,. lamb man Of (tf,1
you cr,s,x'hed Christ, his Saviour Mr.
5witzer and Mr. Mnason renewed their at
tacks upon Mr.. Leach and his townsmen. ant
1t seemed as il more trouble would occur ant
the people would tear down the tent.
Finally, near midnight, through the effort
Of Mr. McClaskey and Mr.. Bates, the clergy
men were induced to withdraw, and on con
dition that the tent be closed and MIR. Mnasor
leave the city they were promised immunity
from further rough usage In short tint
the usual quiet tone of the village was re
stored and the crowd dispersed, while thu
clergymen retired.
Mr. Mnason has not yet left the town, ane
there Is talk of tar and feathers.
Among the villagers many Of whom arr
people Of wealth and refinement and some o
whom are New York business men, the de
termination to get rid Of Mnason seemed h
be prevalent.
No church meeting was held last night, bu
the citizens held meeting and appointed
committee of three to notify Switzer an
Mnason not 10 hold any more meetings, an
TO tell them IL they did they would receive
coat of tar and feathers. The committee So,
Switzer, who said:
'sCome Thursday evening witheyour Ia
and feathers We shall hold the meeting the
and be ready for you.n